Massimo Vitali L O V E

Large scale, impressive, dreamy with pleasing colors... My favorite MassimoVitali photo is below. Currently on display at Bonni Benrubi Gallery and available as a 76 x 91", edition of 6 prints for a mere $61,000 USD.
One Kings Lane had a sale a while back and before I could log on, poof... they were gone. I'm drawn to the water images, but his portfolio also includes gardens, moutains and disco scenes.

Massimo Vitali was born in Como, Italy, in 1944. He moved to London after high school, where he studied Photography at the London College of Printing. In the early Sixties he started working as a photojournalist, collaborating with many magazines and agencies in Italy and in Europe. His series of Italian beach panoramas began in the light of drastic political changes in Italy. Massimo started to observe his fellow countrymen very carefully. He depicted a “sanitized, complacent view of Italian normalities, at the same time revealing “the inner conditions and disturbances of normality: its cosmetic fakery, sexual innuendo, commodified leisure, deluded sense of affluence, and rigid conformism. In the past 12 years he has developed a new approach to portraying the world, illuminating the apotheosis of the Herd, expressing and commenting through the most intriguing, palpable forms of contemporary art- Photography.

He lives and works in Lucca, Italy, and in Berlin, Germany.
http://www.massimovitali.com/

Shower Room in Bathroom Ideas

High-gloss shower room

Maximise additional space in a shower room by installing a recessed mirror to permit for ample shelving. Use high-gloss tiles in tone throughout to reflect light, & go for floating units to keep floor space clear.

Shower room ideas | 25 beautiful homes | grey slate |modern | led lights | PHOTO GALLERY |Housetohome

Grey slate shower room

Make the most of a compact space by choosing a frameless shower screen. A recessed shelf is useful for keeping products basically to hand, while LED lighting adds a touch of drama.

Limestone shower room

Create a unified look by combining limestone wall tiles with matching flooring. Cladding units in the same stone adds a luxurious touch. Tiling the walls right up to the ceiling and using a floor-to-ceiling shower screen emphasises the height of the room and provides an added sense of space.

Wallpapered shower room

Give a large shower room a boudoir makeover by combining traditional wall tiles with statement wallpaper.

inspiration from Serena & Lily catalog

Have you seen the new catalog from Serena & Lily HERE? Mine just arrived and I am quite impressed by the great style and styling. I'm so tempted to order everything to recreate this table. So pretty!

our breakfast room lighting ( a before, after and now )

We've had our home for three years. And we've had three different light fixtures in our breakfast room.

Before: with the builder light just after move in day:

There's something about having the same light as everyone else on the street that had me on the hunt for new lighting right away. It wasn't long before I purchased the Gothic lantern from Pottery Barn HERE:

After:

Oh, how I wish I wasn't so sensitive to my home environment. I think we had the Gothic fixture up just a few months when I noticed dirty film on the glass. Lesson one: glass encased light fixtures are not for an OCD clean person. Lesson two: not a huge fan of the pointy Gothic arch. Lesson three: scale is everything. I knew I could do better.

See the film? After cleaning it, I could never get the streaks to disappear.

The next day we removed the glass inserts and I liked the open sides better... but not for long...

Here it is now with a new lantern I really love. The scale is better, the lines are prettier and it just feels nice.

Now:

You can see the tree house from this window. And let me tell you when we are outside at night, this lantern looks beautiful glowing through the window. The dimmer switch makes the lighting romantic and welcoming.

I also learned that lanterns create intersting shadows on the walls and ceiling.

Where is the Gothic lantern now? In my office sitting room. It's okay (anything was better than the builder boob light), but I'm always keeping an eye out for something better.

No glass = No film

It's fun to play musical lights : )

Home Interior Design for 2012

Sleek, shiny, stainless steel appliances are still on trend for 2012. However, aesthetics have little to do with it. Stainless is practical in the kitchen. Because it is nonporous, germs & bacteria can be wiped away basically.

Opening up the kitchen space & integrating it with the lounge is becoming increasingly popular. Homeowners require a space that is functional & inviting. Making a contemporary great room by opening the space between the allows simple & relaxed entertaining.

Eco-friendly & nature inspired materials are going to be popular choices for homeowners in 2012. Natural wood finishes on tables, dressers & furniture will be reminiscent of the outside. Colors that reflect nature, sky blues, forest green & neutrals are on trend. Take it a step further & use low VOC paints & stains.

Hardwood, bamboo, reclaimed wood floors are on trend in 2012. These surfaces are basically cleaned & maintained. Bamboo flooring is highly sustainable, & has the looks of new hardwood. Homeowners looking for something more unique ought to opt for reclaimed wood floors. These floors are recycled from dismantled buildings & like bamboo floors, are a more sensible choice for the environment. For 2012 any hard flooring option is a solid choice.

another fab find from Wisteria (a table for our cabana)

This past fall our pool project was completed. Before and After pictures of the entire outdoor project are coming soon, but first, I want to share this fab find... this new bistro table from Wisteria that arrived today, delivered for less than $100 (thanks to their winter sale and a coupon code from retailmenot).

Isn't it cute for the great price?

The cabana is feeling more and more complete. Almost. Still wishing for lanterns, a rug, new pillows, cushions, plants and outdoor drapery.

The garden stools are from One Kings Lane. I purchased 5 of them to scatter around the pool area. The lounge furniture is from Ballard and the shutter cabinets are from Restoration Hardware.

I had been thinking about this little table for so long,

but it was the sale price and this picture from The Girl is Craftee HERE that finally made me complete my Wisteria order. Don't the tables look nice flanking the sofa here? Just as interior designers Bixy and Ball HERE (the designers for this space) used the Wisteria tables indoors, I want to too. The quality, finish and design are great. Now, go order one for yourself before they sell out!

Another new L O V E from Wisteria.

interior home